CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total AvalonBay stockholders' equity	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated earnings less dividends	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			129,416,695
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 8,599,727	$ 8,596,132	$ 1,294	$ 8,988,723	$ (345,254)	$ (48,631)	$ 3,595
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	683,567	683,567			683,567
Income (loss) on cash flow hedges	(121)	(121)				(121)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	6,237	6,237				6,237
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	3,709	3,709			3,709
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	14,221						14,221
Noncontrolling interests derecognition	(17,816)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(608,709)	(608,709)			(608,709)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	338,814	338,814	$ 26	339,186	(398)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			2,633,687
Amortization of deferred compensation	26,776	26,776		26,776
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			132,050,382
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	9,046,405	9,046,405	$ 1,320	9,354,685	(267,085)	(42,515)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	742,038	742,038			742,038
Income (loss) on cash flow hedges	5,354	5,354				5,354
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	5,774	5,774				5,774
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	965	965		(1,088)	2,053
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(673,670)	(673,670)			(673,670)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	687,402	687,402	$ 50	688,677	(1,325)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			4,951,649
Amortization of deferred compensation	26,258	26,258		26,258
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			137,002,031
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	9,840,526	9,840,526	$ 1,370	10,068,532	(197,989)	(31,387)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	1,034,002	1,034,002			1,034,002
Income (loss) on cash flow hedges	(5,556)	(5,556)				(5,556)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	6,433	6,433				6,433
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	1,489	1,489			1,489
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(741,313)	(741,313)			(741,313)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	10,695	10,695	$ 3	11,982	(1,290)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			328,873
Amortization of deferred compensation	25,140	25,140		25,140
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			137,330,904
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 10,171,416	$ 10,171,416	$ 1,373	$ 10,105,654	$ 94,899	$ (30,510)	$ 0